AS 2023 comes to a close, we’re taking a month-by-month look at the sporting year that was in Warrington.

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Our latest piece looks at June – a month in which Warrington Wolves’ season nosedived dramatically...

WHEN 2023 is reflected upon by Warrington Wolves fans, June will be seen by many as the month things really took a firm turn for the worst.

Whether it was regression in terms of results and performances or key off-season signings being let go due to disciplinary issues, everything that could have gone wrong at The Halliwell Jones Stadium seemed to do so.

Four of the five games The Wire played in June ended in defeat, with the one saving grace being a home win over Huddersfield Giants.

That came after their annual trip to Tyneside for Magic Weekend ended in a second-half collapse against Hull FC, while Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos also inflicted Super League defeats upon Daryl Powell’s men.

Warrington Guardian: Hull's Adam Swift scores against Wire at Magic WeekendHull's Adam Swift scores against Wire at Magic Weekend (Image: SWPix.com)

The undoubted nadir, however, was the ending of their Challenge Cup dreams at the hands of a Wigan Warriors side supposedly hamstrung by Kaide Ellis’ red card after only seven minutes.

Despite being handed a glorious opportunity to put one over on their neighbours, Wire produced a desperately poor showing to crash out at the quarter-final stage.

Warrington Guardian: Wigan elation and Wire dejection at full time in the Challenge CupWigan elation and Wire dejection at full time in the Challenge Cup (Image: SWPix.com)

Amidst all of this was the ending of Josh McGuire’s painfully short time as a Warrington player after he was found guilty of using unacceptable language on the field for the second time.

Having already served a seven-match ban, the forward was then hit with a 12-game suspension – one of the longest ever handed out on Super League – which resulted in him being released from his contract.

It wasn’t all bad news for The Wire in June, with homegrown youngster Connor Wrench making his long-awaited return from an ACL injury in successful fashion, scoring twice in the loss to Hull in Newcastle.